Insulated conductor and the method of applying colored surfaces thereto



Nov. 15, 1932. A. P. HINSKY 1,887,851

INSULATED CONDUCTOR AND THE METHOD OF APPLYING COLORED SURFACES THERETOFiled Feb. 11, 1932 I I'll I 6 IN V EN TOR.

A TTOR%Y.

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTHONY I. HINSKY, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ABSIGNOB TO I. T. TBOTTER & CO., 01 BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, A CORPORATION 0] NEW YORK INSULATED CONDUCTOR AND THE METHOD 0]AEPLYING COLORED SURFACES THERETO Application filed February 11, 1932Serial No. 592,849.

This invention relates to insulated conductors, cables or the like, andparticularly to the provision of two or more coatings to the fabriccasing or jacket of products of this class; and the object of theinvention is to provide a conductor, the fabric jacket of which is firsttreated with a weather-proof and flame resisting compound whichimpregnates or saturates said jacket and upon which is placed anothercolored compound containing a wax base, the latter compound producing acoating or film of predetermined color which conceals the undercoatingor saturant which is usually of a different color; a further objectbeing to provide a method of producin insulated electric conductors ofthe class escribed, upon which different colored coatings may be appliedon the different conductors of a multiple conductor cable so as todistinguish one conductor from the other, thus simplifying electricalinstallations and insuring the electricians selection of circuit wiresof proper polarity as well as correct circuits; a further object beingto provide a color compound having a wax base, which when applied to theconventional black saturant will not only produce the desired colorjacket or enclosure, but will also partially adhere to the saturant toprevent, in the flexure of the conductor, what is known as chipping,cracking or flaking; a still further object being to provide an electricconductor of the class specified, in connection with which a final orthird coating of colored wax may be employed, the latter being of acolor consistent with the color of the wax base compound applieddirectly upon the saturant; and with these and other objects in view,the invention consists in a conductor and the method of producing thesame, which is more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating one method of applying asaturant to an insulated wire as well as an optional method of applyinga powdered substance thereto.

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating a method of applying acolored compound to the insulated wire treated with the saturant, andillustrating a method of chilling and polishing the colored compoundcoating, and,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of an electric conductor indicating theapplications of coatings thereon.

For the purpose of illustrating one method of carrying m invention intoeffect, I have diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing, apparatusfor applying the several coatings to an insulated conductor. In Fig. 1,I have indicated at 5 a reel of an insulated conductor strandconsisting, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, of a wire 6, a rubberjacket 7 and a fabric jacket 8 in the form of a cotton braid or anyother desired structure.

The conductor passes from the reel 5 into a tank 9 containing a saturant1O passin around two sheaves 11 and 12 disposed in sai tank and overuide rollers 13 at opposite ends of the tanl The tank 9 is heated byburners 14 or any other suitable heating element to maintain thesaturant at the desired temperature.

The saturant 10 is in the form of a compound having the usualweather-proof and flame resisting characteristics and is preferablyblack in color but may be produced in other colors if desired. However,it is preferred to use the black saturant by reason of its economy andpracticability. After passing through the tank 9, the conductor 5atreated with the saturant may be passed directly onto a receiving reel15, or if desired, may be passed into and through the tank 16 laterdescribed. However, in Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown the treatedconductor passing into a container 17 in which is placed a powderedsubstance 18, such for example as sodium bicarbonate, sodium tungstate,sodium carbonate or a similar substance or combination of substances, orin fact, a so lution such as sodium silicate may be used. The conductorpasses around a sheave 19 in the container 17 and then upwardly aroundit passes may be passed directly into and through the tank 16 containinga colored compound 21. However, in the construction shown in Fig. 2, thetreated conductor 5a extends from the reel 15a, Fig. 2, which may be thesame as the reel 15, and passes around a sheave 22 which submerges theconductor in the compound 21 so as to apply .a coating of the compoundto the conductor. Inpassing from the sheave 22, the conductor 51)treated with the compound 21 passes through a wiper 23 disposed over thetank 16 which removes all surplus compound and leaves thereon arelatively thin coating or film, the treated conductor 57) thenpassingbeneath a water spray 24 disposed above a tank 25 for the purposeof. chilling and hardening the compound coating 21 arranged onthe-conductor, afterwhich the conductor passes over a guide pulley orroller 26, then between polishing or finishing rollers 27 and onto areceiving reel or spool 28. The compound 21 in the tank 16 is maintainedat the proper temperature by a suitable heater indicated at'29. Thewater discharged from the spray 24 is controlled by a valve 30 in asupply pipe 31, which may be in circuit with the drain or discharge pipe32 of the tank 25 or from another source of water supply, in which eventthe drain 32 will merely constitute-a discharge.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown the various coatings applied tothe fibrous casing or jacket 8 of the insulated wire, the saturant beingindicated at 10, the powdered or other coating at 18, the coloredcompound at 21, and at 33 I have indicated another or final coatingwhich is an optional coating that may be ap lied with the apparatusshown in Fig.

2 or y means of a spray. The coating '33 consists of wax containing acolor pigment consistent with the color of the compound 21,

although the shade of the final coating may be lighter or darker thanthe compound coating 21 as desired.

It will be understood that theapplication of the saturant to the fabricjacket of. an'insulated wire is old in the art, and my present inventiondoes not deal with the specific characteristics of this saturant otherthan the requirement of a saturanthaving weatherproof and fire or flameresisting properties. This saturant impregnates the fibres of the jacket8, and is such as to meet the tests and requirements of the fireunderwriters- At this time, it will be understood that while myinventionis not limited to the use of the application of the powdered orother substance 18 to the saturant, if used, this substancewill alsopreferably-have the flame resisting characteristics and will facilitatethe application oi the compound 21 to the conductor treated with thesaturant, and will eliminate to a large degree the possibility of theblack saturant showing through the color compound, althou h'I have foundin practice, that the colore compound will completely or substantiallycompletely cover and coat the saturant, producing the desired color inthe compound,

The colored compound which forms the basic feature of my invention inits combination with a saturant, is composed primarily of a wax base anda pigment of the color desired in the resultingproduct. In compoundingthis coating which may be regarded as a color filament or jacket, Iprefer to use parafiin wax,-with which is combined relative 1y smallpercentages of carnauba wax and synthetic wax, and if desired, a smallamount of synthetic resin may be included. It will be understood,however, that the various ingredients will be modified and varied intheir proportions and uses, depending upon the particular type andconsistency of the saturant employed on the conductor and the colorpigment used in the compound, and still further in acquiring in theresulting film or jacket a coating which will withstand bending orflexure of the conductor, without danger of cracking or flaking, itbeing understood at this time, that by employing the wax baseappearance, and in the contrasting colors desired in the many electricaluses.

The polishing rollers 27 or other means em ployed serve, in addition tothe characteristics of the compound,.to give a polished glossyappearance to the finished conductor. It will be understood that myimproved compound may be produced in white and the va-.

rious shades of blue, green, brown, yellow, orange, gray, etc. soas toproduce in a multiple conductor cable, decided color contrasts betweenthe conductors employed to clearly distinguish one from the other.

In some instances, and especially when light colors are employed in thecompound 21 and the same is used upon the black satv urant, the blackbackground-of .the saturant may tend to darken the colors. Accordingly,the compounds will be prepared to meet this condition. However, if theouter coating 33 of colored wax be employed, this color, being of thesame ground color as the compound 21, will produce the lighter shade inthe resulting product. Whenused, the outer coating 33 serves to fill inan voids in the layer of the colored com oun which maly occur due tomechanical efects in its app lcation, and produces a smoother and morefinished appearance to the entire product, but for all practicalpurposes, this final coating is found not to be necessar and in view ofthe increased cost, woul not be commercially desirable, except inspecific cases.

It will also be understood that I may include with the colored compound,substances which would render the same flame-proof or flame resisting tosome degree, thus increasing the flame retarding properties of thecomplete product. For example, chlorinated naphthaline may be used, itbeing well known that when heated, the applied chlorine gas is liberatedfrom the chlorinated product which has a tendency to smother inflammablegases which are usually given off by the rubber insulation and whichusually burn freely until finally consumed.

It will be understood that an insulated con ductor treated inaccordancewith the method herein set forth and by the use of the colored opaquecompound, can be produced at a very nominal production cost, and yet thefinished product has distinct advantageous features over other knownmethods of applying lacquer coatings to insulated wires. While I haveshown and described certain types of apparatus for applying the variouscoatings to the insulated conductor and have set forth certainingredients in the compound, it will be understood that my invention isnot limited in these respects, and various changes in and modificationsof the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention orsacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of treating the fibrous covering of an insulated electricconductor which comprises first applying a black, flame retardingsaturant to said covering, then applying another substance having flameretarding characteristics upon the saturant, and then applying a colorcomposition containing a wax base upon said substance so as to cover andmask the black saturant and commingle therewith.

2. The herein described method of producing colored insulatedconductors, which comprises first treating the outer fibrous jacket ofthe conductor with a flame retarding saturant of predetermined color,and then applying a compound of contrasting color and having a wax baseupon the fabric jacket treated with the saturant to provide in theresulting product a finished coating commingling with the saturant andof a color contrasting to and concealing the color of the saturant.

3. The herein described method of roducing colored insulated conductors,w 'ch comprises first treating the outer fibrous jacket of the conductorwith a flame retarding saturant of predetermined color, then applying acompound of contrasting color and havin a wax base upon the fabric'acket treated w1th the saturant to provide in the resulting product afinished coating comminglin with the saturant and of a color contractingto and concealing the color of the saturant, and then applying to thecompound coating a final coatin of paraflin containing a color pigmentconslstent with that of the color of said compound.

4. The method of treating an electric conductor having a fibrous jacket,which comprises first impregnating the jacket with a flame retardingsaturant, and then applying a coating conslsting of an opaque colorcompound to and forming a covering masking the saturant, the com oundhaving a melting point substantially similar to or higher than thap1 ofthe saturant and commingling therewit 5. The herein described method ofproducing a flame resisting insulated electric conductor which comprisesfirst applying a flame resistant and water roof saturant to theinsulation of the con uctor and then applyin a colored flame resistantopaque compoun over said saturant to form a cover masking and partiallycommingling with the saturant.

6. The process of treating the fibrous covering of an insulated electricconductor which comprises first applying a black saturant to saidcovering and then applying to the covering thus treated a colored opaquecomposition having a wax base to commingle with and and adhere to thesaturant and forming a colored covering masking the saturant.

7. The process of treating the fibrous covering of insulated electricconductors which comprises first applying a saturant to said covering,then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over saidsaturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when appliedthereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the colorvalue of the compound.

8. The process of treating the fibrous covering of insulated electricconductors which comprises first applying a saturant to said covering,then applying a colored apaque compound containing a wax base over saidsaturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when appliedthereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the colorvalue of the compound, and then applying to the product a final coatingof wax containing a color pigment consistent with the ground color ofthe compound employed.

9. The process of treating the fibrous-covering of insulated electricconductors which comprises firstapplying a saturant to said covering,then applying a flame resisting powdered substance to said saturant,then applying a colored opaque compound contain ing a wax base over saidsaturant, the compound commingling with the saturant when I appliedthereto and also forming a covering masking the saturant with the colorvalue of the compound.

10. The method of providing a predetermined finish coating to anelectric conductor having its fabric jacket impregnated with a blacksaturant, which. comprises-applying over the saturant an opaquecomposition having-awax base and including a color pigment contrastingto that of said black saturant, the saturant and the compound beingsubstantially of the same melting point to provide a comminglingtherebetween.

11. In the art of electric installation, an electric wire includingrubber insulation upon which is a fabric jacket, said jacket beingtreated with a fire resisting saturant, and an outer coating of opaquecolored wax covering and masking the saturant and producing apredetermined color on the insulation of the wire and said coatingcommingling with the saturant without destroying the color valuethereof.

12. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electricconductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance, anothercoating applied to and eommingling with the first coating. both of saidcoatings being of substantially the same melting point, and the lastnamed coating comprising an opaque colored compound having a wax baseforming on the first coating a colored mask enveloping the insulatedwire.

13. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electricconductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance, anothercoating applied to and commingling with the first coating, both of saidcoatings being of'substanti ally the same melting point,

the last named coating comprising an opaque colored compound having awaxbase forming on the first coating a colored mask enveloping theinsulated wire, and a flame retarding substance applied to the firstcoating before the application of the second coating.

14. In the art of electrical insulation, a fabric jacket for electricconductors having a coating of a flame retarding substance. anothercoating applied to and commingling with the first coating, both of saidcoatings being of substantially the same melting point, the last namedcoating comprising an opaque colored compound having a wax base formingon the first coating a colored mask enveloping the insulated wire, aflame retarding substance applied to the first coating before theapplication of the second coating, and a

